Observational data collected on 50 severely/profoundly retarded adolescents revealed that subjects received almost no individual staff member attention; that subjects interacted or were in close proximity with other subjects approximately 54 percent of the time; and that the group size or composition has less relationship to the subjects' behavior…

Sex acts as a "diffuse status" characteristic in mixed-sex task groups and leads to the exertion of less influence by females than by males. Three techniques for changing expectations are compared. (Author/AM)

Poses several questions concerning self-disclosure in group counseling and draws on research findings and clinical experience to provide tentative answers and guidelines for group leaders. (Author)

This article briefly discusses some important elements of group effectiveness, then outlines characteristics of groupthink, provides examples of situations in which it occurs, and recommends actions in each case for preventing or lessening it. (Author/CT)

Research findings suggest that behavioral feedback is rated by group members as more effective than interpretive or mixed feedback. (Author)

The results of an experiment with a participatory learning model indicate that, through participatory training, adults can experience improvement in their self concept which will aid them in becoming effective group members and in making decisions. (Journal availability: Department of Adult Education, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506.)…

The results of the social behavior inventory which was administered to Anglo-American and Latvian American children showed that both groups chose answers in the cooperative direction, but that the Latvian sample was somewhat more competitive in nature than the American. (PJM)

To investigate the involvement of spatial and social density in the appreciation of humor, adolescents participated under conditions of high and low spatial density. High spatial density was found to significantly diminish appreciation of three humor types. Significant sex and age differences in reactivity to spatial density were also found.…

Findings indicate that interpersonal compatibility in work groups and its relationship to goal achievement is not a unidimensional or unidirectional phenomenon. Rather, compatibility appears inextricably related to other aspects of group problem solving, including the methodology of decision making. (Author/IRT)

Tests were conducted to determine if domestic chicks would respond to multiple social separations with the cumulative disruption of social development seen in other species. (Author/SS)

Describes Douglas McGregor's group at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the 1940s and the group at Carnegie's Graduate School of Industrial Administration in the 1960s. Both showed the lively, task-obsessed characteristics of "hot groups." Both occupied participants' hearts and minds, held to high standards, and were extremely…

Rated selected sessions of two long-term psychotherapy groups (N=143) using Gottschalk-Gleser anxiety and hostility verbal content analysis scales. Found group judged to be clinically more successful demonstrated prolonged periods in various states and that affect dimensions of states were consistent with group developmental stage hypothesis…

Urges caution in illuminating and interpreting spontaneous group metaphors. Encourages metaphor amplification as less intrusive means for using this therapeutic tool. Provides case examples to support discussion. (Author/CM)

Reviews relevant issues in clinical social group practice including group versus individual treatment, group work advantages, approach rationale, group conditions for change, worker role in group, group composition, group practice technique and method, time as group work dimension, pretherapy training, group therapy precautions, and group work…

Investigated the relationship of group cohesiveness to empathy, self-disclosure, acceptance, and trust, and compared three different groups (personal growth, driving under the influence, psychotherapy), with a total of 65 subjects, on measures of cohesiveness. Found all factors correlated significantly with cohesiveness and with one another.…